What is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?

Posted on December 21, 2012 by KitchenSaver

Community Supported AgricultureWe NEED food to survive. And for the longest time, we have depended on local farmers to get us that food. Unfortunately, times are changing. Small farmers, which now make up only 2%of the population, are being replaced by large corporations. Unless we do something, farming as we know it will be forever changed and the local farmer will be a thing of the past.

The Solution: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)!

What is Community Supported Agriculture?

A CSA consists of a community of individuals who come together to pledge support to a local farming operation. With a CSA, the growers and consumers, which act as shareholders, provide mutual support and share equal risks, including poor harvest due to unfavorable weather or pests. These shareholders help cover the cost of operation, as well as the farmer’s salary, up front and, in return, they receive a portion of the farm’s bounty.

Basically, customers subscribe to a farm, paying a “membership fee” to receive a share of vegetables each week throughout the growing season.

What are the Benefits of Community Supported Agriculture?

Benefits for Farmers:

  1. Financial support
  2. Marketing support
  3. Guaranteed sales as customers are ‘locked in’ for the season
  4. No price competition
  5. Connect with the local community
 Benefits for Consumers/Shareholders:

  1. Fresh, locally grown food
  2. Develop a relationship with the local farmer
  3. Support the local community

If you have any questions, please contact Kitchen Saver for all your Kitchen needs by calling 877-828-9056 or click here today.

Happy Holidays from Kitchen Saver!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Sources:

Community Supported Agriculture: An Introduction to CSA

Community Supported Agriculture

Defining Community Supported Agriculture

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Innovative Kitchen Gadgets: The Perfect Gifts for this Holiday Season

Posted on December 18, 2012 by KitchenSaver

“For Hanukkah we got my father in law a new knife set,” said Kitchen Saver’s own Rebecca Gleason. “The knives were covered in a nonstick coating. In addition to making the knives brightly colored (lime green, hot pink, electric blue, etc.), the coating makes slicing easier. This got me thinking – what other neat kitchen gadgets and innovations have popped up recently?”

Well Rebecca, take a look…

The Innovative Kitchen Gadgets of 2012

1. Bodum Bistro Pour Over Coffee Machine: Touted as the cure to bitter coffee, this $250 coffee maker features a unique design intended to mimic a manual pour-over exactly. This should lead to more even brewing. Click here to learn more.

2. Pop-Out Bakeware: Are you tired of your cakes and muffins getting stuck in the pan? If so, then Chef Curtis Stone has developed the baking pan for you! Stone’s Pop-Out Bakeware Pan is a hybrid silicone and nonstick bakeware pan. It allows you to easily extracted cakes and muffins after baking. Click here to learn more.

3. Hamilton Beach Insulated Slow Cooker: Tired of overcooking? Well the Hamilton Beach Insulated Slow Cooker could be the answer for you.  Simply set the time you want dinner ready and the slow cooker will adjust its cooking levels based on your input. Click here to learn more.

4. KitchenAid Personal Coffeemaker: You brew your coffee. Then you pour your coffee into your travel mug, making a mess in the process. What a pain! Well, the KitchenAid Personal Coffeemaker brews directly into your travel mug! Neat, huh? Click here to learn more.

What will they think of next!?

If you have any questions, please contact Kitchen Saver for all your Kitchen needs by calling 877-828-9056 or click here today.

Happy Holidays from Kitchen Saver!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Sources:

Cool New Kitchen Appliances and Tools – Home and Housewares Show 2012 Kitchen Gear – Good Housekeeping

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Homemade Pet Treats: The Perfect Gift for your Pets this Holiday Season

Posted on December 5, 2012 by KitchenSaver

This holiday season, don’t forget to give a gift to everyone’s favorite family member, your pet! And when it comes to that special dog or cat in your life, they don’t care how much you spend on them as long as what you give them tastes great. So instead of heading to your local pet store and spending a ton of money on some obscure squeaky toy, take a look at these easy to make Homemade Pet Treat Recipes. Both your pet and your wallet will love them!

Homemade Dog Treats: Apple Cedar Dog Biscuits

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups barley flour
  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
  • 1/3 cup shredded cheddar
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Take a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper.

3. Next, in a large mixing bowl, combine all of the above ingredients with 3 tablespoons of water.

4. Roll out your dough between two sheets of plastic wrap until it is about ¼ inch thick.

5. Use a cookie cutter to cut out as many dog treats as you can.

6. Reroll scraps and continue cutting out biscuits.

7. Place the uncooked treats on the baking sheet and place in the over.

8. Bake for 30 minutes or until the treats are browned and firm.

9. Let biscuits cool.

Homemade Cat Treats: Chicken Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups cooked chicken, shredded
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup cornmeal
  • 1 tbsp. softened margarine

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken, broth and margarine.

3. Add the cornmeal and flour to the above mixture.

4. Knead the resulting dough into a ball and then roll it out to ¼ inch.

5. Using your favorite cookie cutter, cut out as many cat treats as you can.

6. Reroll scraps and continue cutting out treats.

7. Place uncooked treats on a baking sheet.

8. Bake for 20 minutes.

9. Let treats cool.

Happy Holidays from Kitchen Saver!

If you have any questions, please contact Kitchen Saver for all your Kitchen needs by calling 877-828-9056 or click here today.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Sources:

Apple Cheddar Dog Biscuits MarthaStewart.com

Homemade Cat Treats Natural-Pet-Essentials.com

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Holiday Dinners vs. Your New Diet: Beat Temptation & Stay the Course

Posted on November 30, 2012 by KitchenSaver

The holiday season can be a magical time of the year. But for those of us trying to lose weight, the holiday season can be a nightmare. Between the sugar cookies, eggnog, fruitcake, latkes, stuffing, and other fattening foods, the holiday season can quickly undo all of your hard work.

Did you know that a single cup of eggnog packs over 200 calories? 200 calories! Wow!

Tips to help you stick to your Diet this Holiday Season

1. Have a Plan of Attack: Since many foods are traditional, you’ll have a sense of what will be served, so you can figure out how to manage what you will eat and in what quantities.

2. Don’t arrive on an Empty Stomach: An empty stomach is a diet’s worst nightmare. So eat something healthy before heading to your holiday party.

3. Drink Plenty of Water: Drink water, before you get there, before the main meal, and while everybody is snacking. It tricks your body into thinking you have already eaten some.

4. Bring a Dish: Offer to bring a dish. This way you can prepare a delicious, yet healthy alternative that you can eat guilt free.

5. Stay Strong: We know that everything will look and smell delicious. But you have to fight the temptation to binge. It will not be easy, but you can do it! It is okay to eat some holiday treats, just don’t overeat. The key to success is moderation.

6. Eat Smarter the Rest of the Day: Just because you know that lunch or dinner will be full of holiday treats doesn’t mean you have to blow the whole day. You still have two other meals to eat healthy.

Happy Holidays from Kitchen Saver!

If you have any questions, please contact Kitchen Saver for all your Kitchen needs by calling 877-828-9056 or click here today.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well.

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Avoid the Black Friday Crowds and give the Gift of a Kitchen Saver Kitchen!

Posted on November 21, 2012 by KitchenSaver

Maryland kitchen remodelWhile others are standing in seemingly endless Black Friday lines to try and save money on their holiday shopping, you could be sitting at home buying the gift that the special someone on your list really wants…a Kitchen Saver Kitchen!

For more than 25 years, Kitchen Saver has been surpassing simple kitchen cabinet refacing, instead offering Custom Kitchen Cabinet Renewal.

Benefits of Custom Kitchen Cabinet Renewal from Kitchen Saver

1. Expert Installation: Our installation professionals are experts in kitchen cabinet refacing.

2. High Quality Products: Kitchen Saver is committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products available. Our woodworking shops and trained craftsmen create furniture grade cabinets.

3. Aesthetic Appeal: We use hand selected hardwood and laminate material to replace your worn out kitchen doors and kitchen drawer fronts.

4. Maximize Storage & Efficiency: Kitchen Saver offers interior cabinet upgrades including pot and pan pullout drawers, lazy susans, spice racks, heavy duty mixer lifts, and tilt-out sink trays.  We also custom make kitchen islands specifically designed to meet your needs.

5. Surprisingly Affordable: At Kitchen Saver, we are not only dedicated to making your kitchen remodeling beautiful, but also convenient and affordable.

6. Everything is Guaranteed: At Kitchen Saver we guarantee all of our work, because we install every job we sell. We have never used subcontractors and we never will.

7. And more!

Maryland Kitchen remodelKitchen Saver can transform old and unsightly kitchen cabinets at a fraction of the cost of a total tear out. And best of all, the entire process takes just three days!

So why wait in those Black Friday lines when the perfect holiday gift is just a phone call away?

If you have any questions, please contact Kitchen Saver for all your Kitchen needs by calling 877-828-9056 or click here today.

Happy Thanksgiving from Kitchen Saver!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well.

 

Posted in kitchen, Kitchen Remodeling, Kitchen Saver

Thanksgiving and Fire Safety Tips from Kitchen Saver

Posted on November 16, 2012 by KitchenSaver

While it is always important to practice fire safety when cooking, it is even more important to be safe on Thanksgiving. On the day when many hosts are cooking more food than normal, kitchen fires become a real issue. In fact, there are an estimated 2,000 kitchen fires in the United States on Thanksgiving Day annually. That is three times more than a typical day in the U.S.

Fire Safety Tips for each and every Day

1. Keep a Fire Extinguisher Nearby: A kitchen fire can happen any day of the year. Because of this, it is important to keep a fire extinguisher nearby to stop small kitchen fires before they get out of hand.

2. Check the Batteries on your Smoke Detectors: Having smoke detectors around your home is important. But if the batteries are dead, these smoke detectors are pointless. This is why it is important to periodically check the batteries.

3. Keep a Potholder Close By: If something goes wrong, you need to be able to deal with the problem at hand. But if it takes you too long to find a potholder, the situation can get out of hand.

4. Never wear Loose Clothing: It is never a good idea to wear loose fitting clothing while cooking. If you are not being careful, such clothing could easily touch a burner and catch fire.

5. Turn Pot Handles In: You don’t want to accidently hit a pot handle dangling over the oven. Or worse, you don’t want a small child reaching for a pot handle!

6. Stay Attentive: Avoid leaving the kitchen while cooking. If something goes wrong and there is no one around to handle the situation, the results could be disastrous.

7. Know how to handle Grease Fires: NEVER pour water on a grease fire! This will only cause the fire to spread. Instead, smother the flame,

Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips

1. Keep Thanksgiving Decorations Away: If you go all out for Thanksgiving, make sure you do not place any decorations around the oven.

2. Adults Only: Keep the kitchen off limits to children.

3. Do not cook more than you can handle: Yes, Thanksgiving is all about food. But make sure you do not cook more food than you can manage.

4. Avoid Turkey Fryers: One of the biggest trends nowadays is the deep fried turkey. However, this is also a HUGE fire hazard.

5. Be Safe!

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at Kitchen Saver!

If you have any questions, please contact Kitchen Saver for all your Kitchen needs by calling 877-828-9056 or click here today!

Kitchen Saver® is committed to providing our customers with the highest value and most innovative home improvement products available.  We are dedicated to making your kitchen remodeling not only beautiful, but also convenient and affordable.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sources:

Thanksgiving Cooking Tips: Serving Up a Side of Safety

Safety Tips: Thanksgiving Fires

Image Source

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Thanksgiving Alternatives: Ditch the Turkey and get Creative

Posted on November 9, 2012 by KitchenSaver

Halloween has come and gone, which can only mean one thing; Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. And if you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, you are probably looking for a way to really wow your friends and family. Well, we at Kitchen Saver have a suggestion…

Ditch the Turkey!

Turkey is boring, dry, and…well, boring. Because of this, we have compiled a list of Thanksgiving alternatives that are guaranteed to please.

Oldies but Goodies: Thanksgiving Alternatives making a Comeback

  1. Ham: Ham is easy to cook and delicious. And if you buy a fully-cooked ham, all you will have to do is heat it up, leaving you more time to add a few finishing touches, like a brown sugar glaze.
  2. Roasted Chicken: Trade one big bird for a more manageable and delectable bird.
  3. Pork Roast: This Thanksgiving alternative is a savory selection sure to please. And if you want to give your main course a little more flavor, consider adding apples and cinnamon. Before you know it, your guest will completely forget about that turkey.
  4. Lamb: A roasted leg of lamb can really take your Thanksgiving dinner from ordinary to extraordinary.

Get Creative: Some Thanksgiving Alternatives you may have never considered

  1. 1. Jambalaya: Break away from the norm all together with a nice Thanksgiving Jambalaya. It is easy, it is delicious, and your guests will be impressed.
  2. 2. Baked Cod: Who says you can’t serve fish on Thanksgiving? And if you really want to impress your guests, try adding a creamy mustard sauce or a saffron sauce.
  3. 3. Eggplant Parmesan: Perfect if you have any vegetarians coming to dinner, eggplant parmesan is a dish everyone can enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at Kitchen Saver!

If you have any questions, please contact Kitchen Saver for all your Kitchen needs by calling 877-828-9056 or click here today!

Kitchen Saver® is committed to providing our customers with the highest value and most innovative home improvement products available.  We are dedicated to making your kitchen remodeling not only beautiful, but also convenient and affordable.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Source: 10 Alternatives to a Thanksgiving Turkey Meal

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Emergency / Disaster Preparedness: Be Ready for Storms like Hurricane Sandy

Posted on November 2, 2012 by KitchenSaver

After a recent trip to the grocery store before Hurricane Sandy, Kitchen Saver’s Rebecca Gleason realized just how ill-prepared many Marylanders were for the severe storm. So we thought we would put together a few Emergency / Disaster Preparedness Tips to make sure you and your family is better prepared the next time severe weather hits Maryland.

Emergency / Disaster Preparedness Tips

1. Disaster Supply Kit: Since you never know when a disaster or emergency could happen, it is important to always have a disaster supply kit handy. In it you should include water, food, plates and utensils, a First Aid kit, copies of important documents, extra clothes, rain gear, a disposable camera, a water purification kit, personal hygiene items, blankets/sleeping bags, special-needs items for children and seniors, and any items you may need for your pet(s). And be sure each member of the family knows where to find this kit.

2. Go-Bags: Make sure every family member has a go-bag under their bed. These go-bags should include a flashlight (and spare batteries) and a pair of shoes.

3. Emergency Plan: Draft an emergency plan for your family and make sure each person knows the plan, which should include escape routes, responsibilities (who grabs what), and a meeting spot outside the home. And don’t forget to practice!

4. Emergency Contact: Be sure to have an emergency contact, preferably one in state and one out-of-state. And make sure each family member knows the contact information.

5. Emergency Shut-offs: Be sure each member of your family knows where to locate and how to operate the emergency shut-off for the gas main, water, and other utilities.

Planning your Meals in the event of a Disaster

So you do not find yourself in the chaos of last-minute emergency shoppers, we suggest having a cache of disaster-ready food available at all times.

  • Water: Have enough water to last you at least a week.
  • Non-Perishable Foods: Have a cache of non-perishable canned foods just in case.
  • Foods that do not require Cooking: It is also a good idea to have several foods that do not require cooking, just in case you lose power and do not have the ability to cook/heat food.
  • Baby Food / Formula: Don’t forget about your little ones. Include baby food and formula or other diet items for infants or seniors.
  • Storage: Store the food in airtight, pest-resistant containers in a cool, dark place.

One Last Tip: And as a general rule of thumb, make sure you ALWAYS have enough toilet paper to survive a week. You do not want to get caught in the mad rush at the grocery store just to buy some TP before a storm.

If you have any questions, please contact Kitchen Saver for all your Kitchen needs by calling 877-828-9056 or click here today!

Kitchen Saver® is committed to providing our customers with the highest value and most innovative home improvement products available.  We are dedicated to making your kitchen remodeling not only beautiful, but also convenient and affordable.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Source: Are you Prepared?

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Homemade Halloween Treats: Fun Recipes for you and the Kids

Posted on October 27, 2012 by KitchenSaver

From costumes and decorations to delicious recipes, Halloween is a holiday for the entire family. Below we at Kitchen Saver have compiled a few of our favorite Halloween recipes. And trust us, these recipes are almost as fun to make as they are to eat. So grab your son or daughter and head to the kitchen!

Doughnut Hole Eyeballs

Ingredients:

  • 2 (11-ounce) bags white chocolate chips
  • 12 doughnut holes
  • Semisweet chocolate chips
  • Tube of red decorator frosting
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Melt the white chocolate chips with oil over low heat.

2. Spear a doughnut hole with a fork and submerge it in the melted white chocolate.

3. Stick a semisweet chocolate chip with its point cut off onto each doughnut hole. This will act as the pupil.

4. Using a tube of red decorator frosting, add squiggly veins radiating from the chocolate chip pupil.

5. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 8 ounces green chocolate melts
  • Cake cones (one per pumpkin)
  • Mini-Bundt cake pan
  • Small tube of black gel decorating icing
  • 14 ounces orange chocolate melts
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup whipping cream

Directions:

1. Mix the cake batter in a bowl according to the instructions.

2. Pour the batter into the mini-Bundt cake pan, filling each cavity 2/3 full.

3. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

4. Remove the cakes and allow them to cool.

5. While the cakes are cooling, have an adult cut off the tops of the ice cream cones. The bottoms will be used for the pumpkin stems.

6. Dip the bottom half of the ice cream cones into the melted green icing. Allow them to dry.

7. Once the cakes have cooled, you can level off the top of each mini cake with a serrated knife.

8. Now it is time to make the orange icing.

a. Add the whipping cream and butter to a saucepan over medium heat.

b. Once the butter is melted and is incorporated with the whipping cream, remove from the heat.

c. Start adding the orange chocolate melts until they’re all melted and incorporated into the mixture.

d. Set the icing aside to cool for 1 to 2 minutes.

9. Spread some of the melted orange icing on the cut side of the mini cakes and stick two cakes together (The tops should be facing each other).

10. Dip the two layer mini cake into the pot with the orange icing, coating the entire pumpkin in orange icing. Then let the icing cool.

11. Use a tube of black gel decorating icing to make each pumpkin’s mouth, eyes and nose.

12. Insert the green chocolate covered ice cream cone on the top for a stem.

13. Enjoy!

Happy Halloween from everyone here at Kitchen Saver!

If you have any questions, please contact Kitchen Saver for all your Kitchen needs by calling 877-828-9056 or click here today!

Kitchen Saver® is committed to providing our customers with the highest value and most innovative home improvement products available.  We are dedicated to making your kitchen remodeling not only beautiful, but also convenient and affordable.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sources:

Forked Eyeballs

Pumpkin Mini-Cakes Recipe

Posted in food recipes, Halloween treats, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Saver | Tagged , ,

Spicing Things Up: Making Your Own Homemade Spices

Posted on October 19, 2012 by KitchenSaver

Have you ever wanted to plant your own spice garden? What about grind your own spices? While growing and grinding your own spices can be a lot of work, it is well worth it! Not only do fresh spices taste great, but blending your own concoctions allows you to personalize each blend to your own specific tastes. Now that is a win-win!

“Fresh spices don’t last as long as store bought ones but they taste better,” said Kitchen Saver’s own Rebecca Snyder-Gleason. Below is her recipe for a homemade Chinese Five Spice.

What You Will Need:

1. A Mortar and pestle,

2. A Hand crank grinder,

3. A Spice grinder,

4. Or a clean coffee grinder

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp Black peppercorns
  • 3 star anise
  • 2 tsp fennel seeds
  • 2 3″ cinnamon sticks
  • 6 whole cloves

Directions:

1. In a small, heavy, dry skillet, toast the peppercorns over medium heat until they became fragrant (about 1-2 minutes)

2. Pour into a bowl and set aside

3. Repeat toasting process separately for the star anise, fennel seeds, cinnamon, and cloves

4. Pour all of the spices into your chosen spice grinder and grind into a fine powder

5. Let the mixture rest in the grinder for 1 minute, then transfer it to a glass container with a secure lid.

6. Store in a cool dry place for up to a month.

7. Enjoy!

If you have any questions, please contact Kitchen Saver for all your Kitchen needs by calling 877-828-9056 or click here today!

Kitchen Saver® is committed to providing our customers with the highest value and most innovative home improvement products available.  We are dedicated to making your kitchen remodeling not only beautiful, but also convenient and affordable.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Image URL: williams-sonoma.com

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